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Yonder Alonso showed why he's the Padres' top prospect and, in the process, went a long way toward securing a spot on the Opening Day roster.

The former first-round Draft pick had two hits, including a bases-loaded double, on Saturday as San Diego posted an 8-5 Cactus League victory over the Kansas City Royals in Peoria, Ariz.

Facing veteran left-hander Bruce Chen in the bottom of the first inning, Alonso lined a one-out double off the right field fence that staked the Padres to a 3-0 lead.

Alonso also singled in the third and grounded out in the fifth before making way for Kyle Blanks. He raised his average to .265 and has seven RBIs in 12 Spring Training games. A year ago, he posted an .860 OPS at Triple-A Louisville before smacking five homers and hitting .330 in a 47-game stint with the Reds.

The 24-year-old first-baseman was acquired with catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger last December in the deal that sent right-hander Mat Latos to Cincinnati. Blocked at his natural position by 2010 MVP Joey Votto with the Reds, Alonso is being given the chance to win a spot in the Padres lineup.

Second baseman Jonathan Galvez slugged a two-run homer and No 5. prospect Jedd Gyorko drove in the go-ahead run with a forceout in the eighth as San Diego improved to 8-8 this spring.

Robert Emrich is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.